A Military Ethic for New Missions

Abstract

Military ethic is an important factor for an effective functioning of military organization. Yet, the moral paradigm of human security may pose challenges for which the military ethic developed for the purpose of national defence seems ill-suited. This article suggests in what way the military ethic can be adapted to the specific requirements of human security operations, such as humanitarian operations, peacekeeping, and humanitarian interventions. To examine the military ethic it is divided into three categories. Any military ethic has to provide soldiers with guidance concerning (1) their obligations inwards to the military community; (2) the relationship upwards to the political community, i.e. the state; and (3) the responsibility outwards to the ‘others’, i.e. the enemy, allies and civilians in need of protection. Any military ethic needs to address all three orientations of moral responsibility; nonetheless, it is demonstrated here that it is the outward orientation, in particular, that is more important in human security operations and needs further development. We explore what this shift in military ethic may require in terms of recruitment, training and education and command structures.